The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced that Buffalo Grove teen Molly Pinta (she/her)—a 14-year-old who identifies as bisexual—has been named a member of the 2021 class of HRC Foundation Youth Ambassadors, joining nine other LGBTQ advocates across the country.
HRC Foundation Youth Ambassadors serve two-year terms, and this is Pinta's second year.
"This program is designed to amplify the important voices of teens and young adults, and engage them in helping HRC Foundation improve the lives of LGBTQ youth at home, at school, at work and beyond," said HRC Foundation Director of the Youth Well-Being Program and the Time to THRIVE Conference Dr. Vincent Pompei, in a statement. "These youth have real and meaningful contributions to make to HRC's work and to their communities."
As Youth Ambassadors, these LGBTQ advocates will represent the HRC Foundation, sharing their experiences to raise awareness about the most pressing issues facing LGBTQ youth today. They will also lend their voices to HRC Foundation programs that support LGBTQ youth, including All Children-All Families, Youth Well-Being, Welcoming Schools and HRC's eighth annual Time to THRIVE conference in February.
With the help of her parents, Pinta founded The Pinta Pride Project, a nonprofit that aims to bring acceptance and awareness to the LGBTQ community in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. The organization threw Buffalo Grove's inaugural Pride parade, which featured more than 80 groups and thousands of attendees.
Windy City Times profiled Pinta in 2018; that article is at www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Buffalo-Grove-girl-plans-for-2019-Pride-Parade/63632.html .
